Community of Practice
The WASH in HCF Community of Practice Initiative, facilitated by the Water Institute at UNC, is an action-oriented learning platform seeking to connect practitioners around the world.
The WASH in Healthcare Facilities Community of Practice (COP) seeks to bring together practitioners from across the globe to share experiences in providing and sustaining these critical services. The COP was launched in 2021 and is currently facilitated by the Water Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as the Secretariat.
The COP contributes to the global WASH in health care facilities initiative co-led by WHO and UNICEF through three main objectives:
- Connect in-country WASH in healthcare facility implementers with the evidence, resources, potential partners, and funding mechanisms they need to develop, implement and advocate for WASH in HCF programs
- Provide a platform for COP members to share experience, ideas and best practices for WASH in HCF programming
- Encourage members to take action based on the latest research and best practices
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for WASH in healthcare facilities.
Upcoming events
Stay tuned for our next webinar in September!
Previous events
Recent webinars hosted by the COP are highlighted below. The full selection of prior webinars is archived here.
Environmental contamination and hand hygiene practice in selected Health Care Facilities in Uganda (July 2026)
This webinar explored findings from PROMISE Consortium studies on environmental contamination and hand hygiene practices across healthcare facilities in Uganda. Speakers discussed the current state of environmental cleaning and hand hygiene, highlighting key barriers and facilitators to effective implementation at all the different levels of healthcare facilities. The session also examined emerging antimicrobial resistance patterns in healthcare facility environments and their implications for infection prevention and control. Watch the recording here.
Advancing Quality of Care in Health Facilities in Rorya District, Tanzania (June 2026)
This joint webinar between the WASH in Healthcare Facilities and WASH Circuit Riders COPs features speakers from Maji Safi Group (MSG). MSG partners with the district government and health facility leadership to implement sustainable improvements that enhance patient outcomes and operational efficiency. This presentation focused on how MSG provides ongoing monitoring, accountability, and capacity building through its Circuit Rider approach, for sustained impact and improvement across facilities. Watch the recording here.
Evidence for policy and practice: Mapping the literature on WASH in HCFs (May 2026)
Newly published research reveals critical gaps in the global evidence base for water, sanitation, hygiene, and environmental health services in healthcare facilities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This webinar presented findings from a large-scale evidence map of more than 4,000 studies, highlighting where research is concentrated—and where major blind spots remain, especially for water and sanitation interventions. We discussed the implications for policy and practice and identify priority research questions needed to generate more actionable evidence. Watch the recording here, and view the interactive data dashboard here.
Strengthening hand hygiene in Uganda’s healthcare facilities (April 2026)
This webinar focused on how health facilities in Uganda are improving hand hygiene through local production and increased access to alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHR), alongside practical approaches to strengthening infection prevention and creating safer healthcare environments. The session featured presentations from colleagues at the Infectious Diseases Institute at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, followed by an audience Q&A. Watch the recording here.
Faith in Action: Advancing WASH in Healthcare Facilities Through Faith-Based Partnerships (March 2026)
This webinar explored how faith-based organizations (FBOs) contribute to strengthened WASH systems in healthcare facilities (HCFs) and serve as essential partners in improving quality of care. This included insights from Catholic Relief Services and the Africa Christian Health Association Platform (ACHAP). The webinar also featured a preview of an upcoming convening of FBOs involved in WASH in HCFs, and launched a new technical working group dedicated to FBO engagement in WASH in HCFs. Watch the recording here.
Securing public commitment for results-based funding of drinking water in rural HCFs (February 2026)
This webinar examined how public commitments for results-based funding can be secured to sustain drinking water services in rural healthcare facilities, drawing on the SafePani model in Bangladesh and exploring how professional service delivery, verifiable performance metrics, and co-financing arrangements have enabled delivery of reliable drinking water that is free from faecal contamination in community clinics and rural primary schools at scale. Watch the recording here.
Strengthening infection prevention and control activities in Ghana’s healthcare system (January 2026)
This webinar presented results from several evaluations and steps taken by the Ghana Health Service that has led to the start of a national, government-led scale up campaign of onsite chlorine generators in health facilities across the country. Watch the recording here.
The Right Fit: Matching Water & Sanitation Technologies to Health Facility Needs (Nov 2025)
Are you equipped to support decision-making on water and sanitation technologies when it comes to different types of health care facilities, from health posts to large hospitals? We will share guidance on selection of technologies that meet facility needs and protect public and environmental health, including examples from Bangladesh and the Pacific. Watch the recording here.
Findings from the new Global Progress Report on WASH, Waste and Electricity in Health Care Facilities (October 2025)
This webinar provided an overview of the 2025 Global Progress Report on WASH, waste and electricity in health care facilities, published by WHO and UNICEF. Watch the recording here.
Clean Frontline: Improving hospital surface hygiene in Cambodia (September 2025)
This webinar shared the results of a stepped-wedge trial across 13 referral hospitals in Cambodia, testing the WHO’s training package for environmental cleaning —the first of its kind globally—on microbiological cleanliness and discussed how the project empowered hospital cleaners to recognize their vital role in infection prevention. Watch the recording here.
Working Groups within the WASH in HCF Community of Practice
WASH FIT
Meet-Ups
WHO and UNICEF organize regular meet-ups open to all to discuss best practices and lessons learned when using WASH FIT.
The first meet-up of 2026 focused on water quality management. Access the Notes, Recording, and Slides.
Faith-Based Action Working Group
The faith-based action working group welcomes members of all faiths to participate in this platform to connect, learn, and support one another to improve WASH in faith-based healthcare networks and beyond. Learn more about faith-based action on WASH in HCFs here.
Fill out this form to get involved, or email Nikki Behnke at [email protected]
Decentralized Chlorine Production COP
This consortium of civil society organizations, private-sector companies, and individuals seeks to advance innovative chlorine generation technologies and service delivery models for disinfection and water treatment in low- and middle-income countries.
“A healthcare facility without WASH is not a healthcare facility.“
Dr. Maria Neira, Director of Public Health and Environment, World Health Organization